Mackie C300i, C300 User Manual

C300/C300i TWO-WAY PORTABLE SOUND REINFORCEMENT SPEAKER USER’S MANUAL

AND WARRANTY REGISTRATION

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read Instructions — All the safety and operation instructions should be read before this Mackie product is operated.

2. Retain Instructions — The safety and operating instructions should be kept for future reference.

3. Heed Warnings — All warnings on this Mackie product and in these operating instructions should be followed.

4. Follow Instructions — All operating and other instructions should be followed.

5. Water and Moisture — This Mackie product should not be used near water – for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, near a swimming pool, swamp or salivating St. Bernard dog, etc.

6. Heat — This Mackie product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, or other devices which produce heat.

7. Object and Liquid Entry — Care should be taken so that objects do not fall on and liquids are not spilled into this Mackie product.

8. Damage Requiring Service — This Mackie product should be serviced only by qualified service personnel when:

A. Objects have fallen, or liquid has spilled into this Mackie product; or

B. This Mackie product has been exposed to rain; or

C. This Mackie product does not appear to operate

normally or exhibits a marked change in performance; or

D. This Mackie product has been dropped, or its chassis damaged.

Duration Per Day Sound Level dBA, Typical

9. Servicing — The user should not attempt to service this Mackie

product beyond those means described in this operating manual. All other servicing should be referred to the Mackie Service Department.

Exposure to extremely high noise

10.

levels may cause permanent hearing loss. Individuals vary considerably in susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if

exposed to sufficiently intense noise for a period of time. The U.S. Government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specified the permissible noise level exposures shown in the following chart.

According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of these permissible limits could result in some hearing loss. To ensure against potentially dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recommended that all persons exposed to equipment capable of producing high sound pressure levels use hearing protectors while the equipment is in operation. Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the ears must be worn when operating the equipment in order to prevent a permanent hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits set forth here.

In Hours Slow Response Example

8 90 Duo in small club 692 4 95 Subway Train 397 2 100 Very loud classical music

1.5 102 1 105 Patrice screaming at Ron about deadlines

0.5 110

0.25 or less 115 Loudest parts at a rock concert

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 3

HOOKUP DIAGRAMS ............................................... 4

Quick Start ........................................................ 4

PLACEMENT ............................................................ 6

RIGGING .................................................................. 7

SERVICE INFO ......................................................... 8

Warranty Service ............................................... 8

Troubleshooting ................................................. 8

Repair ............................................................... 8

Don’t forget to visit our website at www.mackie.com

for more information about these and other Mackie products.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE ...................................... 9

SPECIFICATIONS ................................................... 10

C300 LIMITED WARRANTY .................................... 11

PRODUCT REGISTRATION CARD .......................... 35

Attached to back cover

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing Mackie Designs’

sound reinforcement speakers.

The C300 has a Speakon® input, and the C300i has a 1/4 inch phone jack. Apart from this difference, all details in this manual apply to both models.

The C300 is a portable two-way loudspeaker system, capable of extremely high sound pressure levels, and designed to give you the best performance of any loudspeaker in its class and price range.

Mackie Designs’ entry into the sound reinforcement loudspeaker market began with the acquisition of Radio Cine Forniture (RCF), headquartered in Reggio Emilia, Italy. RCF has a long tradition in developing speaker technology for the high-end pro-audio market.

The Transducers

The C300 features a 12” high-power low-frequency woofer and a 1.75” mylar diaphragm high-output compression driver. The woofer incorporates technology used in large-format touring systems and, with a massive, precision 3-inch voice coil, is virtually indestructible.

The high-frequency compression driver is mounted on a multi-cell aperture loaded on a constant directivity horn, providing an ultra-wide, controlled dispersion pattern and precise reproduction of the critical upper mid-range and high-frequencies. The result is an unbelievably smooth off-axis response that allows everyone in the audience to experience the same high-resolution audio no matter where they are seated.

Each driver has been specifically designed by our engineers for optimum performance in a lightweight high-strength cabinet.

The Crossover

This unique Low Impedance Compensated Crossover (LICC) design places inductors in series with the woofer whose values are markedly lower than conventional designs. This reduces the amount of energy that is typically wasted as heat and increases the amount of energy that is transformed into real acoustic power. It also incorporates dynamic protection for the compression driver from non-linear signals.

The Cabinet

The C300 cabinet was designed to be the strongest molded composite cabinet on the planet. This material is as strong as concrete, and rigid enough to prevent unwanted vibrations and standing waves in the cabinet. It has built-in fly points for hanging, and a socket in the bottom for mounting on a tripod stand. Although it is an exceptional choice for installed sound situations, its light weight and durable finish also make it ideal for portable sound system use. The asymmetrical trapezoidal design of the cabinet also makes it easy to use as a floor wedge for stage monitor applications.

The C300 offers a portable, lightweight solution for a variety of high-powered sound reinforcement applications.

Inputs

The C300 input is a Speakon connector, wired as follows:

Pin 1+ is Positive (+)

Pin 1– is Negative (–)

(Pins 2– and 2+ are not used)

The C300i input is 1/4” TS (tip-sleeve), wired as follows:

The Tip is Positive (+)

The Sleeve is Negative (–)

Having these inputs on the C300i speakers makes them an ideal choice for use with one of our PPM-series professional powered mixers.

Part No. 820-188-00 Rev. A 7/99

HOOKUP DIAGRAMS

Quick Start

Make all initial connections with the power switches OFF on all equipment. Make sure all master volume, level, or

gain controls are all the way down.

1. Connect the line-level outputs from your mixing console (or other signal source) to the inputs of your power amplifier.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IN PARALLEL IS

2 PER POWERED MIXER OR AMPLIFIED CHANNEL

2. Connect the “Speaker Output” from your power amplifier (or powered mixer) to the

3. Turn on your mixing console (or other signal source).

4. Turn on the amplifier. Turn up its volume or gain control(s) as recommended by the manufacturer.

5. Start the signal source, whether it be speaking into a microphone or starting a CD player. Adjust the volume controls on the mixer (or other signal source) for normal operation.

POWERED MIXER

INPUT

connector on the C300.

C300

SOUND REINFORCEMENT SPEAKER SYSTEM

C300

SOUND REINFORCEMENT SPEAKER SYSTEM

C300i: WITH A POWERED MIXER, AND USING THE THRU JACK

SPECIFICATIONS: POWER HANDLING:

RMS • 300 WATTS MUSIC • 500 WATTS PEAK • 750 WATTS

IMPEDANCE • 8 OHMS

HORN DISPERSION • 90° X 40°

PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS MAY LEAD TO PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE. PLEASE USE CARE WHEN SETTING MAXIMUM LOUDNESS.

WIDE DISPERSION

EVERYBODY HEARS THE SAME THING

POWERED MIXER

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IN PARALLEL IS 2 PER POWERED MIXER OR AMPLIFIED CHANNEL

DO NOT SUSPEND FROM HANDLES.

CONSULT USERS MANUAL FOR PROPER USE OF SUSPENSION HARDWARE.

MANUFACTURING DATE

SERIAL NUMBER

CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, AND MANUFACTURED BY MACKIE DESIGNS INC, WOODINVILLE, WA, USA AND MACKIE EUROPE •

"MACKIE", AND THE "RUNNING MAN" FIGURE • PATENT PENDING

PARALLEL

INPUT THRU

C300i C300i

Stereo Power Amplifier

Left

Line level

Output

Mixer or

Preamplifier

1202-VLZPRO

SPECIFICATIONS: POWER HANDLING:

RMS • 300 WATTS MUSIC • 500 WATTS PEAK • 750 WATTS

IMPEDANCE • 8 OHMS

HORN DISPERSION • 90° X 40°

PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS MAY LEAD TO PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE. PLEASE USE CARE WHEN SETTING MAXIMUM LOUDNESS.

WIDE DISPERSION

EVERYBODY HEARS THE SAME THING

POWERED MIXER

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IN PARALLEL IS 2 PER POWERED MIXER OR AMPLIFIED CHANNEL

DO NOT SUSPEND FROM HANDLES.

CONSULT USERS MANUAL FOR PROPER USE OF SUSPENSION HARDWARE.

MANUFACTURING DATE

SERIAL NUMBER

CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, AND MANUFACTURED BY MACKIE DESIGNS INC, WOODINVILLE, WA, USA AND MACKIE EUROPE •

"MACKIE", AND THE "RUNNING MAN" FIGURE • PATENT PENDING

PARALLEL

INPUT THRU

Right Line level Output

C300i: WITH A MIXER AND POWER AMPLIFIER

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